Trekking in Uganda: Kadam, Moroto, Elgon

Trekking in Uganda: Mount Elgon – day 1 of 4

After the 3-day Mount Kadam trek we have acclimatized: ready to climb Wagagai, the highest peak of the extinct volcano Mount Elgon at 4,321 meters.

We are going to take the Sipi-Trail route. Maaike, Anja, Peggy, Nelleke and I meet at Kapkwai (2,050m, national park entrance) the Ugandan team of Juma Chebet @elgon_trekk, consisting of National Park rangers Joël & Maddi, Daniel, cook Robert and seven porters.

With a permit for four days we set off from the secondary forest*. At Tutum Camp we take a break. The porters and cook arrive after us and we are told that we are a ‘sporty group’ ? Via Tutum Cave we ascend further through the jungle, then the heathland with beautiful flowers and plants follows.

Kajeri Camp (3,030m) is our camp site today. And…we have a clear running mountain stream where we can freshen up! Two porters teach me how to chop wood with their machetes, a profession in itself ? In the porters hut, the wood fire burns and the food is prepared. Tonight rice with meat, sauce and separately cooked white cabbage. Enjoy your dinner!

* Around 1700 there were rules for the forest / jungle, but compliance was minimal. Resulting in illegal logging. From 1989, the Netherlands helped to restore the forest (secondary forest).